Retailing at £299, the Shot Scope PRO ZR sits somewhere in the middle in terms of price when it comes to laser golf rangefinders. More expensive than some of the entry-level lasers you’ll find on the likes of Amazon, but considerably cheaper than other premium lasers like the Bushnell PRO X3. The good news is that if you do decide to buy a PRO ZR after reading this review, you can save 15% by entering my exclusive discount code ‘ANDYSGOLF’ at the Shot Scope checkout.
Get the Shot Scope PRO ZR today
Ready to try the Shot Scope PRO ZR? Don’t miss out! Click the button below to reveal my exclusive 15% discount code and be taken directly to the official Shot Scope store. Copy and paste or manually enter the code at checkout to apply this amazing saving to your basket.
With this affiliate link, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you. This code can be used on a range or products, and worldwide.
First impressions
There’s no denying that straight out of the box, this is a premium laser rangefinder. Looks-wise, I think Shot Scope has got this one spot on. The PRO ZR has an eye-catching, sleek and modern design thanks to its sharp lines, matte finish and splashes of chrome.
In hand, it’s very comfortable to hold thanks to the shaping of the body and the anti-slip rubber grip. One noticeable difference between the PRO ZR and many other lasers on the market, which I feel gives it even more of a premium feel, is its weight. At 340g, the PRO ZR is considerably heavier than most other rangefinders I’ve used, helping not only to make it feel more secure in hand but also easier to keep steady when using – more on performance later. This added weight comes courtesy of the DuraShield Hardshell – a durable metal shell built inside the rangefinder not only to give it extra weight but to make it more robust. Thankfully, I’ve not yet tested just how robust it is but it certainly looks like it is built to be able to withstand the odd drop here and there.
Performance on the golf course
As expected for the price, the PRO ZR comes with all of the features you’d expect to find on a premium golf rangefinder. At 1,500 yards, the range is the longest I’ve ever seen on any golf laser and in truth, is considerably more than any golfer will ever need. Whilst I’m yet to test zapping a target 1,500 yards away, I have tested a more realistic 400 yards, which the device coped well with both when shooting at trees and locking onto the pin.
The PRO ZR has two main modes which can be toggled between using the M button on the top of the device. This same button also allows you to switch between meters or yards when pressed and held – something you can easily do with your middle finger whilst looking through the laser.
The first mode, Golf Mode (M1), allows you to obtain a distance to any target by simply pressing the blue power button. When aiming at the pin, holding this button will lock the PRO ZR onto the pin and cause the device to vibrate, confirming that a lock-on has been achieved. Whilst some lasers aren’t great at locking onto pins, especially when there are trees or bushes behind the flag, I’ve experienced no such issues with the PRO ZR, which does a great job of locking onto those pins.
As the name suggests, the second mode, Continuous Scan Mode (M2), allows you to scan the horizon, with the distances continuously updating on screen. This mode is especially useful when trying to work out if you can carry fairway bunkers or if you will run out of room on holes with doglegs when standing on the tee – and is a mode I use frequently.
As is standard these days, the PRO ZR has built-in Slope Mode, which can be easily activated or deactivated using the sliding slope switch on the side of the device when the device is being used in Golf Mode (M1). This switch is silent, doesn’t feel in any way slack, and is easy to slide whilst looking through the laser. When Slope Mode is active, the display also shows the adjusted distance to the target based on the elevation change, so you can see both the standard and slope-adjusted distances. Even with this additional data, the display doesn’t look cluttered and is crystal clear, and the X6 magnification is more than good enough for zapping those targets.
Irrespective of which mode you use, the PRO ZR is incredibly fast-firing. I tried to test how quickly it could obtain a distance from 150 yards but I couldn’t even start and stop the timer on my phone fast enough, so it’s safe to say this device is rapid. Even from longer ranges around 200 yards, it’s still more than quick enough. As well as being fast, the PRO ZR is also accurate. I regularly compare distance information with maker posts, my Shot Scope V5 GPS watch and playing partner’s laser readings, and have never been given cause for concern.
One handy feature found on the PRO ZR that you won’t find on many other golf rangefinders is dual optics. This feature allows you to toggle between a red or black display with a single press of a button, making it easier to read the display in varying lighting conditions. For example, switching to the red display makes it much easier to read when the light begins to fade during those late Summer evenings. This is one of those features that you really don’t know how useful it is until you use it.
If you use a golf cart then the good news is that the PRO ZR has a cart magnet. I particularly like how it has been built into the casing to be as discrete as possible, yet it is a very strong magnet. Provided you stick it to a solid metal part of your golf cart, the PRO ZR won’t be going anywhere, even if you do drive like a rally driver.
As expected, the PRO ZR is water resistant so you’ll be able to continue using it even during wet weather. I’ve used it numerous times during incredibly wet conditions and it has worked perfectly, and continues to do so. The only issue I have experienced during wet weather usage is that the lenses tend to steam up when the device is put back into the case between uses, but this unavoidable and only requires a quick wipe before the next use.
The PRO ZR comes with a premium water resistant hardshell carry case which does a good job of keeping the water out and protecting the device during your round. The case comes with a carabiner clip to hang it onto your golf bag and something I particularly like is the fixing band which allows you to quickly open and close the case without needing to fully zip or unzip it – you’d be amazed at how many other rangefinder cases don’t have this simple feature
Like most traditional rangefinders, the PRO ZR is powered by a small CR2-3V battery and not a built-in lithium-ion battery, so the battery will need to be replaced when it runs out. However, Shot Scope suggests that it will last for 4,000 measures, so you should get a fair amount of usage before it’s time to replace the battery. In any case, you can pick up a pack of two CR2-3V batteries for around £8 on Amazon, so they’re not expensive.
Finally, with the PRO ZR, not only do you get access to a fantastic laser but inside the box you’ll also find a QR code which gives you completely free access to GPS maps for over 35,000 courses worldwide via the Shot Scope mobile app. This means that as well as being able to shoot those pins with your laser, you’ll also be able to view aerial images and obtain live GPS information to key points and hazards for each hole during your round.
Final thoughts
Overall, the PRO ZR really does have the look and feel of a premium laser rangefinder and comes with a whole host of features helping to firmly position it as one of the best lasers on the market. Whilst at just over £250 (with my discount code below), it isn’t cheap compared to some other lasers, it is still considerably cheaper than its main competitors like the Bushell PRO X3, and you do get access to GPS maps through the Shot Scope mobile app, which is a real bonus.
For those of you with the money to spend, you’ll not be disappointed with the PRO ZR, and it’s definitely worth considering. For those of you on the lookout for something a little cheaper, the Shot Scope PRO L2 presents a really affordable option at just over £110, and comes with more than enough features to keep the average weekend golfer happy. Find out more in my full Shot Scope PRO L2 Laser Rangefinder Review.
Get the Shot Scope PRO ZR today
Ready to try the Shot Scope PRO ZR? Don’t miss out! Click the button below to reveal my exclusive 15% discount code and be taken directly to the official Shot Scope store. Copy and paste or manually enter the code at checkout to apply this amazing saving to your basket.
With this affiliate link, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you. This code can be used on a range or products, and worldwide.
